SIN IN THE BIBLE
“SIN” The dreaded topic, everyone seems to have their take on what “SIN” is but for some strange reason, its tends to vary from person to person, but what does the bible say about sin?
Here are some of the common definitions of what “SIN” is -
*It is when you do something wrong
*It’s doing bad things
*It’s anything that feels wrong
*We are all sinners and so we shouldn’t judge
I would first like to get the word for sin out of the scriptures, from the Hebrew
Hebrew concordance number
2403 chatta’ah khat-taw-aw’ or chattacth {khat-tawth’};
from 2398; an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offender:–punishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).
We can also look at the root word of the Hebrew word for “SIN” which will give us further understanding of what “SIN” is
2398 chata’ khaw-taw’
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn:–bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
So above we see that sin can mean a number of things related to offending, or even purifying. From this we can conclude that “SIN” means to be an offender or to cause offense. This is all sin means i.e. to cause offense. Now we know this we have to put “SIN” in the context of the scriptures, which should lead us to the understanding that the person we have to offend to sin is the Most High YHWH.
As we can see its also attached to actions such as “to miss”, be “lead astray”, “trespass”.
These are all helpful for determining what “SIN” is, we can take from this that a person sins when they are an “offender” or “lead astray”.
The questions is offender of what?
This is where obedience comes into play, we have to decide whether we are offenders or have been lead astray from what YHWH has given us instructions to do.
Lets see how the scriptures defines “SIN”.
Leviticus 5:17
And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the YHWH; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.
From above we see “SIN” in the context of the scriptures is to “commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the YHWH”
That being said an important thing to keep in mind is that we don’t have to be AWARE of our “SIN” to be in “SIN”…”though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.”
Here are more scriptures that give as a clear understanding as to what “SIN” is and also how it should be treated…
1 Timothy 5:20-21
20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.21 I charge thee before God, and the Adonai Yahushua Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
And the Commandments and the Law (teachings) are Synonymous…
1John 3:4
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
It must be clear to you now what “SIN” is…? Simply defined
“SIN” is to do anything that the commandments of YHWH tell us not to do, whether we know we are doing it or not, it is still “SIN”
Lets find out more about “SIN”…
Psalm 51:4-6
4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
The above scripture makes it clear that we are all conceived in “SIN” “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
This scripture by no means condemns us to a life of “SIN”, but we should be aware that we were conceived init, so there for, we should have a desire to find out what it is so we are no longer guilty of committing “SIN” ignorantly.
If your a sincere believer you now know and understand what “SIN” is to find out what Commandments we should be keeping you can take a look at the “New Covenant here”
To get a list of commandments you can take a look at the “Law here”
Sin is breaking commandments that YHWH has set out for us, this can be done intentionally or unintentionally, its our job to be sincere and ready to (Repent) change and confess any “SINS”, when we find out we have been committing a sin.
1 John 3:9
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
What does the bible say about sin? The answer is in the scripture above.
In layman’s terms 1John 3:9 is saying If we follow YHWH we will not CONTINUE to SIN….
Peace and Shalom.